If you're in Seattle (it appears you are), try taking it in to Photo-tronics for a diagnosis. They do good work, a *tiny* bit slow but my guess is that they can help you out.
Its in the Seattle Center area, near Glazers (lower Queen Anne / downtown)
Speed is not an issue now that I'm back from my vacation. Last time I was there, they sent their lenses out to a place in Everett, WA. Maybe they've added staff to handle repairs.
Now to get my 1D Mark II and gear off to Canon for focus calibration. I've been manually focusing for over a year now. Uh, maybe two years. Time flies...
BTW - on my trip I flew on Alaska. No problems at all carrying my Pelican case filled with lenses and cameras, plus the 200mm 1.8 in it's trunk. Even TSA was cool on my trip. Of course, I got stopped at the airport each time by photographers to ask about the lens. One was even a Nikon fan that had to peek at the lens. I figured that this lens had been around long enough that it wouldn't attract attention.
I used H&K in Tustin, CA. They are only 4 miles from the Canon Factory Service Center in Irvine CA, and according to a conversation with the Canon employee at the front counter, the Canon Factory Service Center at times sends stuff they can't fix to the wizards at H&K.
Update on my lens. I took my lens to Camera Techs in Ballard, WA. My bill was $289 and was finished in one day. When I first showed them the lens, they asked if it was still under warranty. I laughed and I told them to look a little closer. Needless to say, my 200mm 1.8 is in good shape. All the play is gone now and the lens works perfectly.
Another forum member PetKal said he had the same issue and a camera shop in Toronto charged him $220 USD for the fix.
great to hear mine has a similar issue just need to get it in and get fixed...anyone know if you can a replacement plastic window for the focus..mine cracked :-(
